Ash chute or dump



(No Model.)

A. W. GOULD & A. O. FERNALD.

ASH CHUTE AND DUMP! 310,531,678. Patented Jan. 1, 1895.

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Ztyiivuess e5.

UNiTn STATES PATENE rrrcn,

AUGUSTUS \V. GOULD AND ALBERT C. FERNALD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ASH CHUTE OR DUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,678, dated January 1, 1895.

Application filed November 15,1893. Serial No. 491,047. (No model.)

To aEZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, Aucusrus W. GOULD and ALBERT O. FERNALD, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Ash Chutes or Dumps, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to chutes or dumps extensively used for conducting ashes, or it may be other material, from the first or other floors of a building, or from the bottoms of fireplaces, to suitable pits usually located in the cellar.

The invention has particular reference to chutes of the above class in which opening of the cover automatically moves a table into position below it to receive the ashes or material deposited in the chute, the table at such times closing the chute and preventing the upward draft of air which would scatter the ashes or material. The table is again automatically moved to dump the ashes or material when the cover is closed.

This invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of devices of the class referred to, the particular features of the invention being hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents in top or plan view a suiiicient portion of a device embodying this invention to enable the same to be understood; and Fig. 2, a cross section of the same taken on the dotted line m-a'.

Referring to the drawings, A, represents a rectangular casting or box adapted to be inserted in or constitute a part of the upper or entrance end of an ash chute or flue, said casting being provided at its upper side with an outside flange or lip a, adapted to rest upon or be flush with the finish, surrounding the entrance to the chute, or, it, as is usually the case, the chute leads from a fireplace to a pit .at the bottom of the chimney, said flange rests upon or is flush with the hearth or bottom of the fireplace.

B represents the cover shown as provided with diametrically opposite nearly central pivot pintles b, b, which rest in suitable sockets in the upper face of the flange a, the said cover being thus hinged at its middle and adapted to tip into an approximately vertical position to thereby leave an entrance opening to the chute at each of its sides, a part of the cover swinging downwardly, while another part thereof swings upwardly. That side of the cover which swings upwardly is provided at its upper side with a flange or lip I), while the part which swings downwardly is provided at its under side with a flange or lip 12 said flanges b, b co-operating respectively with flanges or lips or, 0, on the casting A, to form a tight joint when the coveris closed with its top surface lying flush with the surface of the flange a.

A table G located preferably at the bottom of the box-like casting A has as herein shown, two diametrically opposite depending ears 0, only one of which is shown in Fig. 2, the other being broken away, said ears being located midway between the side edges of the table. A pivot or hinge wire a is passed through both ears 0 and is supported in the sides of the casting A, thereby constituting a hinge upon which the table may be swung into a substantially vertical positon, as shown by full lines Fig. 2.

The cover 13, preferably at that side which swings downwardly, is provided with a depending lug b to which is jointed one end of a connectionf shown as a wire link, which at its opposite end is jointed to a suitable lug, as 0 on the upper side of the table 0, preferably at one edge of the latter so that when the cover B is'turned into its open dotted line position Fig. 2, the table C will be turned into a horizontal dotted position, closing the chute, and vice versa.

A counterbalancing rib or lug b on the under side of the cover B, at that side of its pivotal center line opposite the point of connection of the link f, serves to counterbalance the link and parts to which it is connected, so that when the cover is opened it swings past avertical position, as in dottedlines Fig. 2, until stopped by cpntact of the flange b with the pivot end of the flange a on the box, thereby carrying the said link or line of connection of the cover and table past its dead center, so that when the ashes are deposited upon the table the weight of the same will not tend to pull'the cover down into its closed position, such a weight on the contrary acting to more positively retain the cover in its open position with the chute closed by the table.

In practice the pivots Z), Z) of the cover B are preferably located slightly to one side of the exact center line of the cover, being at the left Fig. 1, so that the weight of the heavier side of the cover with the counterbalance b will maintain the cover in its normal closed position, as in full lines Fig. 2, or in its full open dotted position in the same figure.

In practice the cover may be opened by pressing down upon the side which moves downwardly, the cover thereby gaining sufficient momentum to carry it past its dead center or vertical position into its dotted position Fig. 2, with the table 0 closing the chute. The ashes are now brushed into the casting upon the table, which latter prevents the usual up draft of air from scattering the ashes. The cover is then closed, thereby automatically tipping the table to dump the ashes, the cover, however, closing quickly enough to prevent any of the ashes escaping into the room.

Both the cover and table are readily removable, the former by simply lifting the pintles Z) from the sockets in which they rest, and the entire device is simple, efficient and very inexpensive.

While we prefer the construction herein shown as the simplest and best, yet this in- Vention is not restricted to the exact detailed construction shown.

We claim 1. The combination with the casing A, of the centrally hinged cover and table, and connections between the same whereby opening of one closes the other and vice versa, either when in a vertical or substantially vertical position presenting an opening at each side between it and the walls of the casing, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the casing A, of the centrally hinged cover provided at opposite sides respectively withrupper and lower lips and co-operating lips on said casing, a hinged table and connections between the table and cover whereby opening the latter closes the former and vice versa, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the casing A, of the centrally hinged cover and table, and connections substantially as described between the two whereby when the cover is opened it is carried past its dead center position to thereby prevent its being accidentally closed by a weight upon the table, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTUS WV. GOULD. ALBERT O. FERNALD.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, J OHN C. EnwARDs. 

